Yerevan /Mediamax/. The level of optimism among Armenian businessmen concerning export prospects makes 17% in 2008##, having cut down for 4%, as compared to 2007.

Mediamax reports that the shareholder of “Grant Thornton Amyot” (GTA) Company and representative of the “International Business Report” (IBR) in Armenia Gurgen Hakobyan said this in Yerevan today.

It is noted in the “International Business Report – 2008”, published by Grant Thornton International, that the number of Armenian exporter-enterprises reduced for 2% (34%), as compared to 2007, and yields to the average global index (39%).

72% of Armenian enterprises deal with import, which significantly exceeds the average global index (39%). The report also noted that two third of Armenian entrepreneurs see their main competitors in the internal market, which almost twice exceeds the average global index.

The greatest obstacle for Armenian businessmen is the absence of long-term funding. “35% of the polled entrepreneurs think so in Armenia, whole the global index makes 21%”, Gurgen Hakobyan stated.

According to him, 28% of polled Armenian entrepreneurs complain about bureaucracy, which is 3% less, as compared to the global index. “Meanwhile, the level of qualified labor force lack in Armenia, which, according to the polled, makes 19%, significantly yields to the global index, which makes 35%”, GTA shareholder stated.